On last week's Global Notes, we celebrated the international roots of disco with music from around the world. Well, at least four continents. Despite our best efforts, we had trouble finding disco from Asia.So, we defied listeners to produce some Asian disco for us. And produce you did.

Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called for a society that doesn’t rely on nuclear power. His announcement stunned some of the political establishment, but it seems in line with Japanese public opinion. A recent poll revealed that 70% supported Kan's nuclear strategy.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said something few expected ever to hear from a Japanese leader: He called for the country to become a society that “can do without atomic energy.” Daniel Aldrich, a Japan expert and political science professor at Purdue University, dissects the statement

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said today that he is giving up his $20,200 a month salary "until the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant is brought under control," Kyodo News reports.There is video of the prime minister (with English translation) making that announcement during a news co

Japan is still reeling from the 9.0- magnitude earthquake and tsunami — and series of aftershocks — that have left the country in disrepair. According to the AP, thousands are missing or dead, entire cities lie in ruin and the fear of radiation still looms.

There's been a powerful earthquake off the North Central coast of Japan, near the same location of the 9.0-magnitude temblor on March 11 that set off a tsunami that pummeled cities along the coast, leaving thousands dead or missing.That's the greatest magnitude of any quake in the area since that Ma